Hitting the books and getting a degree is great in order to get ahead – but don’t expect it to pay as much as last year.

College graduates who recently heard pomp and circumstance are
learning a new tune - grim reality. Recent college graduates
are receiving slightly lower job offers, as companies have more
applicants to choose from and fewer openings.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers says the
average college grad's job offer this year is 1.3 percent less than
a year ago, dipping to $48,700 per year. And the once-coveted
business, computer science and engineering grads are facing some of
the largest percentage declines. Job offers to business
administration graduates are off 2.5 percent, while computer
science and engineering grads are losing about a half percentage
point in pay compared to last year.

English majors had the largest percentage increase at seven
percent, followed by sociology grads with six percent gains.
But those jobs also pay less - almost $25,000 lower than the
highest-paid category, computer science.